Hydro One, Nationwide Insurance, NASA and the Ministério do Desenvolvimento (Brazil) are just a few of the many organisations receiving Facilitation Impact Awards in 2013.

“The Facilitation Impact Awards celebrate the power of collaboration,” says Kimberly Bain, Global Chair of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). The IAF is the organisation behind the Facilitation Impact Awards. “We now have concrete proof that group facilitation and group process methodologies yield significant results. When we look at the metrics [shown in the submissions], we see higher levels of stakeholder buy-in, and now, for the first time ever, we can show measurable, impactful results!” she says.

In total, 32 initiatives from businesses, governments and not-for-profit organisations received awards: 7 Platinum, 17 Gold and 8 Silver. In 2013, the Awards’ inaugural year, the programme was open to organisations in North and South America, and the respective facilitators. The IAF is evaluating the expansion of the programme to its other regions in the world.

“What’s also exciting were the different types of organisations and projects all demonstrating impressive results,” Ms. Bain continues. The results reported by organisations included: process-turnaround-time reduced by 40%; equipment utilization increased from 28% to 92%; a 45% reduction in the amount of time to initiate projects; employee grievances down by 50%; over $200 million in new investments; a 79% reduction in the frequency of accidents.

Recipients report that the awards provide them with a vehicle to showcase the importance and impact of their projects with internal and external stakeholders. “This award is a great honour”, says Jim Rankin of Hydro One. “My hope is that these awards will provide validation for the significant impact that facilitation has in addressing organisation and community issues.” Dominque Dennery, a facilitator from Ottawa, Canada, says that facilitation has become a standard practice within her client’s organisation. “I am very grateful to the IAF for having awarded this distinction to [my clients], and to me. I know they will derive as much pride as I do from the recognition of our efforts to facilitate a challenging organizational transformation. You will be glad to know that facilitation is now built into the planning and delivery of major organisational development initiatives.”

In 2013, the awards programme covered North and South America, and organisations had the choice to submit their applications in any of the top four languages of the region: English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Background information, including the Project Charter, Governance Policies, submission documents and rules were also available in these four languages.

The Facilitation Impact Awards Ceremony will take place June 6, 2013 in Orlando, Florida as part of the IAF conference.

List of Organisations Receiving Awards

Platinum Award Recipients

Defense Intelligence Agency, Human Resources

Hydro One

KLA-Tencor Wafer Inspection Division

Newport City Renaissance Corporation

Northwest Territories Dept of Finance

Oxford Properties

United Illuminating Company – Safety

Gold Award Recipients

AkzoNobel

City of Mississauga

Commissariat aux Langues Officielles

Foremost Farms, USA

KLA-Tencor Global Customer Operation

KLA-Tencor HR

KLA-Tencor Swift Division

Mercy Corps

Montessori Leaders Collaborative

NASA

Nationwide Insurance

Penn State University

SchoolWorks

United Illuminating Company – Diversity

United Illuminating Company – Move Captains

University of Toronto

York County Economic Alliance

Silver Award Recipients

4-H Youth Development Programs of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties

Bobby Dodd Institute

Denver Foundation

KLA-Tencor Wafer Inspection

Ministério do Desenvolvimento

Tata Consultancy Services

US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Directorate

Winnipeg Child and Family Services Resource Program

*Organisations were permitted to submit up to five initiatives. The list above includes two organisations which received multiple awards.

International Association of Facilitators

The mission of the IAF is to promote, support and advance the art and practice of professional facilitation.

Facilitation is a profession rapidly taking its unique place alongside those of consulting and training. The International Association of Facilitators was formed by a group of professionals desiring an avenue for interchange, professional development, trend analysis and peer networking. Since its beginnings in 1994, the IAF has grown to over 1200 members in more than 63 countries. IAF members work in government, non-profit, educational, community, and corporate environments and hold positions as consultants, teachers, in-house facilitators, negotiators, organisational specialists, coaches, and more.

Facilitation Impact Awards

The overall purpose of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) Facilitation Impact Awards initiative is to:

· Promote the awareness of the role of facilitation in achieving positive, impactful results;

· Reward the use of facilitation within organisations and communities;

· Recognize excellence in facilitation practices;

· Acknowledge outstanding contributions by IAF members; and

· Promote IAF and its conferences as vehicles for advancing the profession of facilitation.

In keeping with the spirit of the IAF, the Facilitation Impact Awards is a non-competitive, inclusive awards programme designed to highlight how organisations have successfully used facilitation to bring about positive and valuable impact.

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